Lebanon

May 25, 2008 -- "I congratulate Michel Sleiman on his election as President of Lebanon. I am confident that Lebanon has chosen a leader committed to protecting its sovereignty, extending the government's authority over all of Lebanon, and upholding Lebanon's international obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions, including 1559, 1701, and 1757.

I am hopeful that the Doha Agreement, which paved the way for this election, will usher in an era of political reconciliation to the benefit of all Lebanese. We look forward to working with President Sleiman in pursuit of our common values of freedom and independence."

Source: White House

Chicago, IL -- May 09, 2008 -- Hezbollah's power grab in Beirut has once more plunged that city into violence and chaos. This effort to undermine Lebanon's elected government needs to stop, and all those who have influence with Hezbollah must press them to stand down immediately.

It's time to engage in diplomatic efforts to help build a new Lebanese consensus that focuses on electoral reform, an end to the current corrupt patronage system, and the development of the economy that provides for a fair distribution of services, opportunities and employment.

We must support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions that reinforce Lebanon's sovereignty, especially resolution 1701 banning the provision of arms to Hezbollah, which is violated by Iran and Syria.    » read more »

5/10/2008 -- "I am very concerned about the current situation in Lebanon. Hezbollah-allied militias, using weapons supplied by Iran and Syria, have seized control of West Beirut and are demanding that Prime Minister Fouad Siniora resign and hand over power to a military government.

Rioting in Lebanon: Photo by David (CC)

This is both an illegal challenge to a democratically-elected government and an issue of regional stability with international consequences.

The United States must actively support the sovereignty of the Lebanese government and the independence of Lebanon.    » read more »

September 19, 2007 -- "I strongly condemn today's horrific assassination of Lebanese Member of Parliament Antoine Ghanem. I extend my personal condolences to his family and the families of the innocent persons who were murdered alongside him in Beirut.    » read more »

25 June 2007 -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by, and condemns in the strongest possible terms, the terrorist attack on a United Nations patrol in south Lebanon yesterday that killed six and injured two other United Nations peacekeepers belonging to the Spanish contingent. He calls for a full investigation into this very disturbing incident and hopes that the Government of Lebanon will succeed in its efforts to bring to justice those responsible.    » read more »

Latest report on ICRC activities in the field

Fierce fighting over the last few days in Ain el-Hilweh, a refugee camp in southern Lebanon, has driven families in the camp to seek refuge in the nearby city of Sidon. The situation in the area continues to be very tense and most shops and schools remain closed.    » read more »

31-05-2007 -- Civilians remaining inside Nahr el-Bared camp are a source of deep concern for the ICRC. The volatile truce in the camp has been broken by sporadic skirmishes in which mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades have been fired.

Exchanges of gunfire occur mostly at night. A Lebanese soldier was killed in heavy clashes between the army and Fatah al-Islam on Monday night, raising to more than 30 the number of Lebanese army personnel killed since fighting broke out on 20 May.    » read more »

May 21, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement in reaction to today's violence in Lebanon:

"The United States must fully support the Lebanese government in its battle with an extremist group that is trying to destabilize the country. The Bush Administration should urgently organize an airlift of military supplies to the Lebanese Army. This would send a powerful message of support to the Lebanese people at a critical moment.    » read more »

Joint Statement by Human Rights Watch and CLDH

Beirut, May 11, 2007 – Lebanon’s judiciary should investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of nine detainees whose trial before a military court began on April 21, Human Rights Watch and CLDH (Lebanese Center for Human Rights) said today.    » read more »

May 4, 2007 -- The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved today an amount equivalent to SDR 50.75 million (about US$76.8 million) in Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance (EPCA) to Lebanon in support of the authorities' economic program for 2007.    » read more »